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David Johnson’s return to the field is coming, although it won’t be as soon as the rest of the Cardinals.
The running back, who fractured his wrist in the season opener last year to end his season, should be back full-time by the time the Cards begin organized team activities May 15, coach Steve Wilks said Tuesday at the NFL league meetings at the J.W. Marriott Resort.

He’s in the process of getting cleared, Wilks said. By the time we start OTAs, he should be ready to go. Very exciting time. He’ll make a major difference.

The Cardinals’ on-field work with the new coaching staff begins April 17 with a voluntary veterans minicamp. The Cardinals will also have Phase Two work – on-field but separate offense and defense – starting April 23.

Wilks emphasized Tuesday he shares the football philosophy of many, having strong play at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. He is happy with the additions of new offensive linemen Justin Pugh and Andre Smith, and Johnson’s recovery is at the centerpiece of it helping the offense.

D.J. Humphries is set to return from a knee injury to play left tackle, and A.Q. Shipley is the returning starter at center.

The line isn’t the only spot the Cardinals needed to look at, and there is still another spot that has an obvious hole.

Wilks acknowledged the Cardinals need to find receivers either in free agency or the draft (or both.) But he believes a rookie can contribute at receiver depending on how much is put on them, pointing to a pair of Panthers at his previous team Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess.